Spring is in the air and many of us have been thumbing through seed catalogs and watching home and garden improvement shows on TV in anticipation of warmer weather.

To set you on the path of colorful fragrant blooms and healthy delicious homegrown produce, Wayne County offers many gardening seminars, shows, and sales, all with the spring garden enthusiast in mind.

So after a winter of being stuck inside, get out and enjoy the warm spring weather and the sunshine on your face. Visit the Wayne County Convention & Visitors Bureau website at www.wccvb.com for details on the above events and for more wonderful warm weather events in our area.

The Wayne County Convention and Visitors Bureau, in the heart of Ohio’s Amish Country, has put together a great self drive tour highlighting some of the less traveled backroads of the county. The bureau suggests that you may want to grab your picnic basket and cooler before setting out to enjoy the gorgeous summer weather as this tour features stops at local farmers markets, bakeries, meat markets, wineries and breweries.
Come enjoy the backroads of charming Wayne County, Ohio while filling your picnic hamper with delicious, fresh from the farm, homemade and homegrown treats…the very best of backroads county cusine!

Fresh American handcrafted beer made in historic
120 Beall Ave. Downtown Wooster. They invite you to bring your
Wooster, OH 44691 picnic to their tap room as they only do beer.
330-601-1TAP Growlers available to go.www.JAFBBeer.com

Secrest Arboretum & Gardens

The perfect spot to enjoy a picnic. Open daily dawn to
OARDC dusk. Enjoy the beautiful gardens and arboretum. Part of The
2122 William Rd. Ohio State University’s Agricultural College.
Wooster, OH 44691
330-464-2148www.secrest.osu.edu

Troutman Vineyards and Winery

Bring a picnic lunch and sample home-grown wine
4243 Columbus Ave. in the shade of their backyard. Feed the goats and take a
Wooster, OH 44691 stroll through the vineyard. Learn about the wine making
330-263-4345 process.www.troutmanvineyards.com

Silver Run Vineyard and Winery

Boutique winery featuring hand-crafted wines in a country
376 Eastern Rd. setting. Relax by the coxy fireplace or on the covered back
Doylestown, OH 44230 porch.
330-671-1115www.silverrunwinery.com

Celebrate the July 4th holiday weekend at one of our many community events. The best part, no admission cost!

June 30 Music at the Bandstand-Doylestown
Concerts are free and open to the public. The June 30th concert features The Juke Hounds at 7pm. Food Trucks will be available.July 1Benefit Quilt Auction-Kidron Auction
Annual auction benefitting the Ohio Crippled Children’s Fund. Breakfast is
served at 6:30am (charge) followed by the auction at 9am. Auction features furniture, over 100 locally-made quilts, buggies, harnesses, grandfather clock and more.July 1 Weekly Farmers Market-Downtown Wooster
Locally grown vegetables, flowers and baked goods. 8AM-NOON. Good chance you’ll find just what you need for the family cookoutJuly 1-2 Cowboy Mounted Shooters at the Wayne County Fairgrounds
Watch these cowboys and cowgirls, dressed in movie style western wear, compete in timed shooting matches on horseback. Friday evening at 7:30pm, Saturday and Sunday mornings at 10am. Great fun for the kids.July 4 Ohio Light Opera Community Pops Concert-Downtown Wooster
Bring a chair and join in the festivities. A community pre-firework tradition presented by Main Street Wooster and The Ohio Light Opera at 7pm.July 4 Fredericksburg Independence Day Parade
Billed as “Wayne County’s Biggest Small Town Parade.” The Village of Fredericksburg invites you to their hometown parade that steps off at 11 am.

July 4 Wooster Community Fireworks Celebration
The festival grounds, at the soccer field at Oldman and Kinney Roads, activities start at 5pm with food, entertainment, and family fun. Bring your blanket to stake out your spot for the fireworks at 10pm.July 4-8 Orrville Firefighters Independence Day Celebration & Parade
Annual festival complete with a parade July 4th at 4pm and fireworks July 8th at 10:15pm. Enjoy this hometown family fun festival.

Visit us online for more information on these or many more FREE summer events.
800-362-6474/www.wccvb.com

It’s that time of year again; local farmers and gardeners alike are dusting off their folding tables, pop-up awnings and cash boxes gearing up for the farm market season. If you’ve never experienced a local weekly market, picked your own apples or stopped off at a roadside stand to purchase fresh from the farm produce, you’re really missing a Wayne County treat.

Fresh from the farm flavor.
Because locally purchased produce was harvested that day or the day before, the product you are purchasing is farm fresh. You will quickly realize just how much better these fruits and veggies taste. There is nothing quite like an apple picked straight from the tree, a tomato fresh off the vine, or a fresh brown egg from a free range chicken to prove our point.

Getting to know your local farmer.
Besides the nutritional value and great taste of fresh produce, there is also the economic importance of buying directly from the farmer and keeping the money local. You’ll enjoy meeting the farmer who grew your green beans and potatoes. Many times they have wonderful recipes to share and are quick to slice a melon to share with shoppers before they buy.

A whole lot of fun.
Start a Saturday tradition by grabbing a cup of coffee at a local coffee shop then visiting the vendors at your local market. Wander from booth to booth, smelling bouquets of flowers displayed in mason jars, fresh from the oven artisan breads and cinnamon rolls, local honey, fresh picked produce and herbs. Many markets offer locally made arts and crafts, children’s activities, cooking demonstrations and live music. Seriously, it just doesn’t get much better than this.

Visit the Wayne County Convention & Visitors Bureau website for a list of our local farmers’

markets and roadside farm markets at www.wccvb.com. Or give us a call at 1-800-362-6474 and we will be glad to send you a copy of the 2017 Wayne County Visitors Guide that includes a copy of the Wayne County Calendar of Events.

Here is a list of some of the Wayne County’s local farm markets and co-ops, offering pick your own produce, seasonal activities, corn mazes, and cooking classes!

Here it is folks, the hottest list in town, the 2017 calendar of area city and village wide garage sale dates.
The concept of the garage sale is nothing new, but making them more popular than ever are the “trash to treasure” shows on the Home and Garden and DIY Networks.

Be sure to save the dates of August 10th through the 12th for the granddaddy sale of them all, the Lincoln Highway “Buyway Sale” including the village of Dalton. This sale runs along the route of the Lincoln Highway across the state and right through Wayne County! If you would like information on the Lincoln Highway Sale visit their website at www.historicbyway.com or for more information on area events and attractions visit the Wayne County Convention and Visitors Bureau website at www.wccvb.com

You might already be aware that Wayne County, Ohio is part of the world’s largest Amish settlement and home to Lehman’s Hardware, The J.M. Smucker Company Store and Café, Everything Rubbermaid, and P. Graham Dunn. But did you know that the Ohio Light Opera, summer resident opera company of the College of Wooster also calls Wayne County their home?

The 2017 Light Opera festival season, which runs June 17 through August 12, opens with the toe-tapping musical “The Music Man.” Also included in this summer’s line up will be Cole Porter’s “Anything Goes,” and Gilbert and Sullivan’s “H.M.S Pinafore.” Also featured this season will be “Primrose,” “The Student Prince,” “Countess Maritza” and “The Lady of the Slipper.”

Over 20,000 patrons from across the country and around the world come to Wooster for the Ohio Light Opera performances in the intimate confines of Freedlander Theater each summer. Patrons find the matinee performances fit in well with local restaurants that offer upscale dining and still leave time for sightseeing and shopping. Evening performances can be followed by wine parings or decadent desserts and coffee. Hotels, Inns and Bed and Breakfasts offer special packages that include show tickets and meals.
Additional information about the Ohio Light Opera is available by phone 330 263-2345 or online at ohiolightopera.org or by contacting the Wayne County Convention & Visitors Bureau at 800-362-6474 or online at wccvb.com.

What a great song…only they aren’t singing about Wayne County, Ohio. We host many inside events during the winter months, so if you are suffering from cabin fever or the winter doldrums the Wayne County Convention & Visitors Bureau invites you to visit our new 2017 Wayne County Directory and Calendar of Events online at wccvb.com or a printed copy can be requested by calling our office toll free at 1-800-362-6474. No place to go? The next few months are full of amazing indoor events for the whole family.

Here is just a sample of some of the cozy and warm inside events Wayne County has to offer:

o Exciting Wooster Oilers Hockey Games & Family Skates at the Alice Noble Ice Arena
o June in January Summer Outdoor Living Preview at Buchwalter Greenhouse
o Wayne County Farm Toy Show at Greene Middle School in Smithville
o Brewfest Benefit for the Wayne Center for the Arts
o Concerts and theater productions at the College of Wooster
o Migration Sensation Birding Workshops at Shreve Elementary School
o Arts and crafts shows, toy and train show, health expo, bridal shows, pancake breakfasts, auctions and sales, quilt shows…and that’s just to name a few!

Start a new family tradition with a Wayne County winter family getaway. Many of our hotels offer special winter incentives during the off-season and feature indoor pools, hot tubs, free Wi-Fi and breakfast.…no place to go? We don’t think so!

Celebrate the July 4th holiday weekend at one of our many community events…

Fun on the Fourth!

the best part, no admission cost.

June 28 122nd Army Band Concert-Downtown Wooster

Help us kick-off the July 4th holiday with this free patriotic concert on the square in Historic Downtown Wooster at 7pm. Please bring a lawn chair.

June 29-July 3 Orrville Firefighters Independence Day Celebration & ParadeAnnual festival complete with a parade June 29th at 7pm and fireworks July 3rd at 10:15pm. Family fun festival, Firecracker 5k Run and softball tournament.

July 1 Music at the Bandstand-Doylestown

Concerts are free and open to the public. The July 1st concert features the band LaFlavour at 7pm.

July 2 Benefit Quilt Auction-Kidron Auction

Annual auction benefitting the Ohio Crippled Children’s Fund. Breakfast served at 6:30am (charge) followed by the auction at 9am. Auction features furniture, over 100 locally-made quilts, buggies, harnesses, grandfather clock and more.

July 1-3 Cowboy Mounted Shooters at the Wayne County Fairgrounds

Watch these cowboys and cowgirls, dressed in movie style western wear, compete in timed shooting matches on horseback. Friday evening at 7:30pm, Saturday and Sunday mornings at 10am. Great fun for the kids.

July 2 Weekly Farmers Market-Downtown Wooster

Locally grown vegetables, flowers and baked goods. 8AM-NOON. Good chance you’ll find just what you need for your family cookout.

July 4 Ohio Light Opera Community Pops Concert-Downtown Wooster

Bring a chair and join in the festivities. A community pre-firework tradition presented by Main Street Wooster and The Ohio Light Opera at 7pm.

July 4 Fredericksburg Independence Day Parade

Billed as “Wayne County’s Biggest Small Town Parade.” The Village of Fredericksburg invites you to their annual hometown parade that steps off at 11am.

July 4 Wooster Community Fireworks Celebration

The festival grounds, at the soccer field at Oldman and Kinney Roads, activities start at 5pm with food, entertainment, and family fun. Bring your blanket to stake out your spot for the fireworks at 10pm.

Visit us online for more information on these or many more FREE summer events.

It’s that time of year again; local farmers and gardeners alike are dusting off their folding tables, pop-up awnings and cash boxes gearing up for the farm market season. If you’ve never experienced a local weekly market, picked your own apples or stopped off at a roadside stand to purchase fresh from the farm produce, you’re really missing a Wayne County treat.

Fresh from the farm flavor. Because locally purchased produce was harvested that day or the day before, the product you are purchasing is farm fresh. You will quickly realize just how much better these fruits and veggies are. There is nothing quite like an apple picked straight from the tree, a tomato fresh off the vine, or a fresh brown egg from a free range chicken to prove a point.

Getting to know your local farmer. Besides the nutritional value and great taste of fresh produce, there is also the economical importance of buying directly from the farmer thus, keeping the money local. You’ll enjoy meeting the farmer who grew your green beans and potatoes. Many times they have wonderful recipes to share and are quick to slice a melon up to share with shoppers before they buy.

A whole lot of fun. Start a Saturday tradition by grabbing a cup of coffee to-go at a local coffee shop then visiting the vendors at your local market. Wander from booth to booth, smelling bouquets of flowers displayed in mason jars, fresh from the oven artisan breads and cinnamon rolls, fresh picked produce and herbs. Many markets offer locally made arts and crafts, children’s activities, cooking demonstrations and live music. Seriously, it just doesn’t get much better than this.

Here is a partial list of local Wayne County farm markets and co-ops, some offering pick your own produce, seasonal activities, corn mazes, and cooking classes!

Visit the Wayne County Convention & Visitors Bureau website for a list of our local farmers’ markets and roadside farm markets at www.wccvb.com. Or give us a call at 1-800-362-6474 and we will be glad to send you a copy of the 2016 Wayne County Visitors Guide that includes a copy of the Wayne County Calendar of Events.

Are you someone who likes to discover those one of a kind, out of the way places? Do you shy away from the big box chain stores and cookie cutter restaurants? Then Wayne County, Ohio may be just the place for your next quest to “SEEK THE UNIQUE.”

Shop Downtown Wooster, where parking spaces are as abundant as the many different shops and restaurants who call this historic tree lined main street community home. Whether your shopping style is funky or sophisticated, you’ll appreciate the unique “Soho Style” galleries, bakeries, restaurants, book stores, clothing boutiques and wonderful one-of-a-kind shops, including Everything Rubbermaid, Roomscapes, Friendtique Hospice Resale Boutique, and the Wooster Book Company, just to name a few. Downtown Wooster offers many locally owned coffee shops and restaurants such as Broken Rocks Café, Muddy’s, The Spoon Market & Deli, City Square Steak House, Local Roots, and the Oak Grove Eatery. Spend the night at the St. Paul Hotel, a New York style boutique hotel just a block off Public Square and in walking distance to many fine restaurants and night spots. The next morning be sure to stop by and see Elizabeth at the Tulipan Hungarian Bakery, right on the square or the Templetons at their Scottish Bakery in the lower level of the Liberty Street MarketPlace. You will feel as though you’ve stepped into an old-world European Bakery.

As you begin your journey into Amish Country, may we suggest a stop at Shisler Cheese House? A quaint little cheese shop filled to the brim with local culinary treats and perfect snacks for your picnic hamper. Owner, Rita Shisler, specializes in locally made cheese and meats, along with Amish made baked goods, chocolates, and trail mixes.

Just down the road you’ll find Lehman’s Hardware, a 45,000 square foot store and your source for old-fashioned and practical housewares, appliances, hand tools, and non-electric toys. Visit on a Thursday and enjoy the Kidron Livestock Auction just across the street. On auction day, many Amish housewives sell produce and baked goods from their buggies in the parking lot.

“With a name like Smucker’s it has to be good!” For over 100 years, The J.M. Smucker Company has been proud to call Orrville its home. They are committed to bringing quality products to your table from their proud family of brands, such as Jif, Crisco, Pillsbury, Martha White, and Folgers Coffee. Today at their company store just south of Orrville, you are invited to taste many of these products, walk through the museum that captures this company’s heritage, and shop for anything from peanut butter and jelly to cake mixes and frostings, all housed in a beautiful red roofed timber framed barn. Be sure to stop by the café that offers delicious recipes made with their family of brands, or enjoy the self-serve ice cream bar featuring all the wonderful Smucker’s toppings.

You’ve seen the beautiful laser engraved wooden art, gifts, and home décor produced by P. Graham Dunn Gallery in Dalton, Ohio at hundreds of Christian Bookstores across the country. Now you can tour their 100,000 sq. ft. factory location and watch Amish craftsmen at work. For over 32 years, P. Graham Dunn has been creating home décor that pleases the eye and inspires the heart. Some of the attractive personalized products they make include music boxes, jewelry, kid’s décor, and American hardwood accent items. Have an item personalized while you wait for a one of a kind keepsake treasure.

Over 20,000 patrons from across the country and around the world come to Wooster for the Ohio Light Opera each summer. The 2016 season, which runs June 18 through August 13, opens with the Cole Porter hit “Kiss Me, Kate.” Other notable shows for the 2016 season include: “Annie Get Your Gun,” by Irving Berlin and “The Mikado” by Gilbert and Sullivan.

Theater Goers find the matinee performances fit in well with local restaurants that offer upscale dining and still leave time for sightseeing. Evening performances can be followed by wine parings or decadent desserts and coffee. Special packages at local hotels and bed and breakfasts are available.

So if you are searching for fine dining with a local fresh flair, unique shopping, and exceptional entertainment then Wayne County, Ohio may be just what you’ve been looking for. Call us for a free vacation planner or visit us on line at wccvb.com